2024's 11 Most Scenic Alabama Towns
As thrilling and engaging as it might be to go exploring the cityscapes of Montgomery, Huntsville, and Birmingham, there are a number of worthwhile destinations in the Yellowhammer State of Alabama. For example, 2024’s most scenic Alabama towns are filled with woodlands and mountains from the slopes of the Appalachian Mountains all the way to the Gulf of Mexico. So if you are excited to see Guntersville’s pristine and perfect lake, Dauphin Island’s mesmerizing shorelines, or Spanish Fort’s hybridization of modern nature and the human past, then you should definitely go visit 2024’s most scenic Alabama towns right now.
Guntersville
Give yourself a vacation out of the city of Birmingham and travel an hour and a half toward the mesmerizing town of Guntersville. From there, one can gawk and kayak through the 69,000-acre natural freshwater expanse of Lake Guntersville, replete with dozens of islets with unique environments close to the Tennessee River. Pristine woodlands and more lakeside attractions abound in the Lake Guntersville State Park, Buck's Pocket State Park, and Marshall County Park.
Meanwhile, the Guntersville City Harbor not only boasts a great view of the town’s harbor but also has a few vintage vessels for you to photograph. Spelunkers should definitely delve into the Cathedral Caverns State Park for its “mystery river” and other cavern formations deep beneath the earth. Every year in the month of April, the Art on the Lake attracts hundreds of local and even foreign artists to compete in playful events. In May, on the other hand, chefs and cooks from all corners of the world challenge each other to the AWF Wildgame Cook-off.
Fort Payne
No pain, no gain, as the saying goes. So you should be physically and mentally prepared for long treks of exploration when going through the scenic town of Fort Payne. Make sure you look out for several lookout points from the slopes of Lookout Mountain. Among the many features and environments you might spot are the Little River Canyon Falls Park, the Little River Wildlife Preserve, and Little River Canyon National Preserve. Mushroom Rock, as the name implies, is a mushroom-shaped rock formation close to the Graces High Falls—both stunning attractions in a region filled with memorable panoramas.
Traverse the Azalea Trail towards DeSoto Park and discover Fort Payne’s beautiful parks, such as Buck’s Pocket State Park and High Falls Park. Only about 44 miles from Guntersville, let the sublime wonders within the Lookout Mountain valley give you a superb appreciation of Fort Payne’s habitats.
Fairhope
Fairhope, about 30 minutes from the city of Mobile, has a good amount of scenic spots for you to admire. Whether you are gazing at the vast breadth and depths of Mobile Bay or touring the nearby Montrose Historic District for its well-preserved houses and dioramas of the past, you will undoubtedly enjoy the whimsical glimpses of history and the now.
From Fairhope Pier, one can board a boat across Mobile Bay and reach the distant Gaillard Island for a chance to see more of what Mobile Bay shelters. The Weeks Bay Reserve and Bohemian Park are also perfect destinations to see more of Alabama’s stunning wildlife and wilderness.
Gulf Shores
Gulf Shores offers citizens in Alabama an opportunity to wade in the international waters of the Gulf of Mexico. At the mouth of Mobile Bay, you will come upon several pristine beaches and surfs, as well as a 19th-century fortress called Fort Morgan, which you can photograph. You can charter a helicopter ride at the Lost Bay Helicopters to get an aerial view of the Gulf of Mexico basin. And every July and November, the US Navy the Blue Angels orchestrates aerial and naval maneuvers in the Alabama/Florida coastline for observers in Gulf Shores and other communities along the US Gulf Coast.
More sun and fun can be gained at the Gulf State Park, which also promotes ziplines beside Gulf Shores’ beaches. Get a chance to see migrating birds and sea turtles at the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge, or sloths, lemurs, kangaroos, and other exotic animals at the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo.
Spanish Fort
Spanish Fort may be focused on the history of both the American Revolutionary War and the American Civil War, but there are still a number of naturally scenic locations for you to savor next to magnificently placed historic landmarks. For example, one can take selfies and groupies of the Spanish Fort’s ruins that fit splendidly with the background of the Mobile-Tensaw Delta. At the Wild Native Delta Safaris and Meaher State Park, you can go check out the many fauna and flora that have made a home in this often war-torn area.
The Village Point Park Preserve contains Jackson’s Oak and numerous trails and treks for you to traverse, while the Historic Blakeley State Park preserves the ruins of a town known as Blakeley, which was destroyed in the Battle of Fort Blakeley. Most importantly, you can enter a warship and a submarine from World War II at the USS Alabama and USS Drum Battleship Memorial Park.
Greenville
Known as “Camellia City” because of the abundance of camellia flowers everywhere, Greenville is a 45-mile getaway from the city of Montgomery. Aside from the vast swathes of Alabama’s state flower, Greenville has other majestic amenities for you to cherish since the days when Greenville was located on a popular Native American trail. From Thigpen Hill Special Opportunity Area all the way to Fort Dale, Fort Bibb, and Confederate Park—the latter forts and areas were sites of conflict during the American Civil War—you can find all sorts of attractions that combine both of Greenville’s natural splendors and historic charm.
Don't forget to see the wilderness of Butler County State Wildlife Management Area. Watch or participate in a few events at the Alabama Medieval Fantasy Festival.
Eufaula
Deriving its name from the Eufaula band of Creek Native Americans, the small town of Eufaula welcomes visitors within the dynamic state of Alabama and from the nearby state of Georgia. Travelers can watch the languid grace of the Chattahoochee River, which separates Alabama from Georgia, and use your cameras to capture the historic structures of the Sethe Lore and Irwinton Historic District, the largest historic district in eastern Alabama.
At Lake Eufaula, one can go fishing for small or big bass fish. At the Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge and the Lakepoint Resort State Park, you can marvel at more of Alabama’s thriving and wild creatures. Undertake rustic and leisurely strolls through the Florence Marina State Park and the George T. Bagby State Park & Lodge. Only 47 miles south of the city of Columbus in Georgia, you will not be forgetting Eufaula’s quaint and lackadaisical small-town charm.
Vestavia Hills
Though a residential community close to Birmingham, Vestavia Hills promotes numerous crowd-pleasing locations for you to journey towards. On the slopes of the Shades Mountains, one can find the estate of George Ward, former mayor of Vestavia Hills, whose home resembles the Temple of Vesta in Rome, while his gazebo and bird sanctuary are reminiscent of the Temple of Sibyl at Tivoli.
Deep in the Shades Valley, which serves as the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, travelers can check out picnic spots and playgrounds at Wald Park and across the hanging forest bridge of Red Mountain Park. Finally, you can go walking and gallivanting along the Little Shades Creek and Lake Purdy.
Bayou La Batre
Bayou La Batre, close to the state border of Mississippi, has thrived as the Seafood Capital of Alabama since the 1800s. With its annual celebrations, such as the Blessing of the Fleet, every first week of May, Bayou La Batre is another splendid port town with access to the marine wonders of the Gulf of Mexico. The Portersville Bay Wetlands Forever Wild Tract and the Grand Bay Savanna Wildlife Management Area are pristine destinations to witness more of Alabama’s and the Gulf of Mexico’s wetlands and wildlife.
Deeper in the mainland, more wetlands abound in the Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge, while out into the Gulf of Mexico lies the Gulf Islands National Seashore near Petit Bois Island. Many might be interested in charting a boat towards Isle Aux Herbes for its many beaches and landscapes.
Tuscumbia
Tuscumbia, situated along the Tennessee River and near the border of Tennessee, welcomes travelers near and far, especially from the nearby city of Florence. Though notable for being the hometown of Helen Keller—whose house now serves as an interpretive museum—Tuscumbia is also a grandiose retreat for those seeking the simple attractions in Alabama.
Along the Tennessee River are a plethora of scenic spots for your natural appetites, such as the Seven Mile Island Wildlife Management Area, the Freedom Hills Wildlife Management Area, and the Cane Creek Canyon Nature Preserve. Elsewhere, the Shoal Creek Preserve serves as another park replete with panoramic trails and treks. Finally, there is the Lauderdale Wildlife Management Area close to Pickwick Lake.
Dauphin Island
A few miles south of Bayou La Batre floats the serene and sublime island town of Dauphin Island. Renowned for its rejuvenating stretch of white sand as best seen in Public Beach, Dauphin Island not only is a desirable and pleasurable vacation resort in the Gulf of Mexico but also a place of history. The 19th-century Fort Gaines opens its grounds for people curious to see original cannons and a replica of a blacksmith’s shop.
Naturally, you can journey to the Audubon Bird Sanctuary in order to see thousands of migratory birds in their natural forest and dune habitats. You might also be interested in touring the Dauphin Island Sea Lab's Estuarium for the marine wildlife plentiful in Dauphin Island’s waters, or perhaps the prehistoric shells in the Indian Shell Mound Park might satisfy your fancy. Finally, at the far west side of Dauphin Island juts the West End Beach, the terminus of the narrow Dauphin Island pointing towards Mississippi’s coastal territories.
As the beating Heart of Dixie, Alabama was the epicenter for the abolitionist movement and the Civil Rights laid out by men like Martin Luther King Junior. But for you and your friends and family, Alabama can be one of the best vacation spots you can choose, particularly in 2024’s most scenic Alabama towns. Where the mountains dominate one’s full view in Vestavia Hills or where the Gulf of Mexico comes to life in towns like Gulf Shores and Dauphin Island, you will be enamored by the many scenic small towns Alabama has to offer. This year, sing to the beat of Dixie music and head on out toward 2024’s most scenic Alabama towns worth visiting.
